($353+) St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Dayton, OH, runs anywhere from $367 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,173 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 360 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 4 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,044, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,173 or more.
- Moving containers run $963 - $2,935, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $367 - $915.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Dayton, OH. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,783 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH
Moving options from St. Louis to Dayton fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $1,783 - $4,702 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 360-mile route typically takes 1 to 4 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 360-mile route from St. Louis to Dayton, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,044 for a studio up to $7,173 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $963 - $2,935 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $367 - $915, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $800 - $2,348, billed by the space you actually use.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH
For the 360-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Dayton, Ohio, full-service movers cost between $1,044 and $7,173. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $247 - $1,648 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in St. Louis generally start around $247 plus $145 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,044 - $3,866
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,783 - $4,702
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,913 - $7,173
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from St. Louis to Dayton.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Ohio. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH
Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Dayton, 88% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing93% of local movers | $412 - $4,120 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $165 - $989/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $247 - $1,978 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs86% of local movers | $824 - $2,472 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,060 - $8,240 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $617 - $1,173 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items36% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $824 - $2,060 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Arch Moving | $659 - $2,884 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $247 - $1,236 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $536 - $1,648 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $247 - $12,360+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $247 - $2,884+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Dayton?
Movers licensed to operate in Ohio are typically members of the Ohio Association of Movers, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
How much do local movers cost in St. Louis, MO?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from St. Louis to Dayton with a local mover averages $1,783 - $4,702. A local mover in St. Louis, MO is worth considering for moves under 500 miles. Short-distance moves don't always need the scale of a national carrier, and local companies can offer streamlined service, more flexible pickup windows, and a more personal approach to coordination.
Be sure to confirm interstate licensing, insurance coverage, and delivery expectations before booking.
ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.72/5 stars) is a local mover in St. Louis, based on our analysis of feedback from 263 customers, 83.7% of which is positive.
Address: 3050 Armona Dr, St. Louis, MO, 63129 | Founded: 1989
Moving container costs from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Dayton, Ohio, cost between $963 and $2,935. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in St. Louis typically costs about $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $963 - $1,609
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,184 - $2,261
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,646 - $2,935
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $62 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $124 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $577 in St. Louis, MO, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Dayton, OH, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Missouri to Ohio move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $963. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,184 - $2,261, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Dayton?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in St. Louis to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in St. Louis:
- Arch Moving (4.7/5), 23 years in business
- ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 37 years in business
- Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH
Plan on $367 - $915 for a rental moving truck on the 360-mile route from St. Louis, Missouri, to Dayton, Ohio. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $94 - $108
- Daily insurance: $25/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $16
- St. Louis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from St. Louis to Dayton based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $367 - $645
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $391 - $734
- 4+ bedrooms: $451 - $915
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $367 - $915 does not include fuel ($94 - $108) , lodging ($124/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from St. Louis to Dayton typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $124 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in St. Louis, Missouri, usually costs about $577 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 360-mile drive falls between $94 and $108, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $41 and $247 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis to Dayton?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from St. Louis, Missouri, to Dayton, Ohio. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $947 and $1,826.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $800 - $1,507
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $947 - $1,826
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,316 - $2,348
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $62 and $124.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for roughly five hours typically average $577.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Dayton?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
- Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. (4.42/5 stars): Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: St. Louis, MO vs Dayton, OH
St. Louis and Dayton land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 84 in St. Louis and 80 in Dayton, and rent tracks closely too ($1,250/mo vs. $925/mo). You likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. Walkability (66 vs 45) and safety scores (30.35 vs 40.68) come out about the same too.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Dayton, OH to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Ohio, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 54 movers licensed in Missouri, useful context for sizing up this 360-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 360-mile route from St. Louis, MO, to Dayton, OH, run $1,044 - $7,173 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $963 - $2,935, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $367 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,783, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Morgan Linen & Uniform Services and Premier Physicians.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Dayton, OH
How do I know a mover is licensed in Ohio?
Although a local license is not required in Ohio, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number.
What are the best neighborhoods in Dayton?
For families, Downtown, Webster Station, and South Park are worth a look in Dayton. If you're moving solo or without kids, Oakwood, Centerville, and Springboro tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Dayton?
Dayton has a walkability score of 45 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 47, compared to 66 and 58 in St. Louis. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Dayton a safe place to live?
Dayton has a safety index of 40.68 out of 100 and a crime index of 4.0, compared to 30.35 and 69.65 in St. Louis. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Louis, MO to Dayton, OH?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
What percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 64% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 36% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
